Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-24

CHRIsTMAs EMBLEM.
Origin % the Cussom q Decorasinx N
Christ0astade-TheP resty Conceis In
Connection with the Holly
From the New York Evening Post
Antiquaries are divided In their opinions As to
the origin OF the custom OF decorating houses and
churches at Chr1stmastide, but people are united
| as to its desirableness Among many traditions
extant Is one to the effect that the frst Christian
church in Britain was built Of boughs, the disci-
| pies deeming this the most likely way to attract
| the notice Of the people, because the temples Of
Saturn had always been built OF oak The great
| feast Of Saturn was held in December and as the
oaks were then leafless, the priests required the
people to bring In boughs OF evergreens, and the
| Christians, on the 25th of December, adopted
the same custom, which survives to this day.
Wherever Druidism was recognized, the houses
were adorned with evergreens, so that the sylvan
spirits might ind there safer shelter from the wind
and storm. When st. Augustine arrived in Brit
ain he was wise enough to give this practice q
Christian significance rather than to deprive the
people OF an observance which was sacred to them
| and harmless in itself. In this way the pretty
waxen berries OF the mistletoe, which were won't
10 De deemed essential in the gross ceremonies OF
pagan priests have become tenderly significant Of
universal The early Christians In giving an en-
nlem ma turn to these customs found good author:
Lebanon shall come unto thee the nr tree, the pine
uee ana the box together, to beautfy the place of
One Christmas observance still common in Eu-
rope-tne drawing home and burning OF the yue
log-s traced to very ancient Scandinavian usage,
kindled In honor OF the god Thor. The bringing in
OF tns great log was the most enthusiastic part or
the ceremonies observed on Christmas Eve in feudal
times me Scandinav1ans drew It with much
pomp ana ceremony from its resting place in the
woods, holding that its flames would burn out old
brighter hopes and better performances for the
future The magical significance was carried into
later GAYS ana an old English Christmas was not
apiaze The new log must always be lighted with
Drano preserved from the old one. Among other
one 10 the effect that II 1t throws out cracking
sparks, family dissenson is sure to follow.
Among customs now disdsed, a ceremony existed
at tne court OF England as late as the reign OF
ChareS II, OF bringing branch of the Glastonbury
morn which usually blossoms on Christmas eve,
to the king and queen on Christmas morning.
In connection with the holly, which figures so
eonspicuousy In all our Christian decorations, we
nnu quaint old c0nceit chrOntcled, that every
noHy pougn and lump OF berries with which you
acorn your house Is an act or natural pety wei
as beauty, and Will, In summer enable you to
| relish that green world Of which you show your
ssii not unworthy. In Germany and Scandinavia
tne molly or holly tree, is called ''Christs thorn
iTou ilS use In church decorations and because It.
pears lts berries at Christmastlde. The loving
sentiment imprisoned In the holly bOugh and trans
iatable into every language Will never be more
happily expressed than In Charles Mackay's verses
Under the Holly BOugh:"
.Ye who have scorned each other
In this tast-fadng year;
re who by word or deed
Come. gather here, o'''''
Forget their strife's beginning,
And JOIN in friendship now;
Be links no longer broken,
Be swt ct forgiveness spoken,
Under the holly bough"
To Germany the civilized world is indebted for
| one OF the most enjoyable Of all Christmas de-
lights, the Christmas tree. This custom was little
known in England before the marriage OF Queen
Victoria and was, we believe, introduced by the
| late prince cOnSOrt. We call 1t a gift from Ger
| many, and yet, behind the quaint figure OF Kris
h a IS 'h hs WIN a Lne
with gifts and glitterng with lanterns, as he sud-
denly invades the lowly German cottage on kindly
errand bent we see the yet more ancient toy pine
tree, hung with oscittd. which boys and girls in
ancient Rome looked for the sixth and seventh
days Of the Saturnalia. But we who are not an
tiquar1es are content to accept these pretty Gus
| toms, come whence they may, and TO Improve on
them II we can. wide gulf IL fixed between the
Puritanic days, when Christmas was frowned upon
remnant OF evil superstition and to day, wnen
| nothing Is too rare or good for the making OF our
homes bright and our sanctuaries beautiful in
honor OF the author or the Chr stian Feast Where
ever civilized man is found, there. In one form or
another, We find the tokens OF alteration and graft
| tude.
| A Manifestation OF Christian Unity.
| From the New York Mail and Express.
This was Rev. Charles Ii. Parkhurst OF the Madi-
! son Square Presbyterian church. He is tall, with
! long dark hair, dark beard and intellectual fea-
! lures. A splendid command or language. a sonor-
| Gus voice and an entertaining manner combine to
| make him an exceedingly interesting speaker.
as the spirit or libera1ty and liberation aDr0ad?"
he asked, as he paused in his writing and looked
up in an animated manner. 1t is indeed, and as it
| never was before. i have had living proof or IT
| this week."
| DR.. Parkhurst had recently returned from the
| meeting OF the Evangelical Alliance at Wash
| ington.
| II met" he said, 'whie in Washington clergy
men OF all denominations. BaptistS, Presbytenans
MethodiSts, Epscopallans, and ongregationalists
elbowed each other or sat side by SIDE Yet never
| saw more harmonious meetings. Throughout all
there were but few rppes and these were
caused by other than doctrinal questions. / never
| Saw such manifestation Of Christian unity, re-
| gardlesS OF UNCONVENTIONAL lines"
| "YOu think, then, that the various denomina-
tons are steadily being brought into closer and
| more friendly union?"
| 'MOSt aSSuredly do"
A Look into the Future.
| WHAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN EXPECT IN THE